Omi – Rules

Play Omi against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Omi is Sri Lanka's most popular card game. It's fast and simple: everyone holds eight cards, one player picks trumps after four cards, and whoever takes at least five of the eight tricks wins the hand. Score is kept with tokens – often shells or coins.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 32 French cards: 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king, ace in four suits.
• Ranking (high → low): A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7.
• No card points: Only tricks count.
• Tokens: Each team starts with 10 tokens (or you count tokens won).
• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, tricks face down.

3. Preparation and start

1. Deal: Everyone first gets 4 cards.
2. Trumps: The player right of the dealer looks at their 4 cards and names the trump suit.
3. The rest: Everyone gets 4 more cards (8 in total).
4. Start: The trump chooser leads.

Start example: You sit right of the dealer. Your first four cards: ace of hearts, jack of hearts, 8 of hearts, king of clubs. You choose hearts.

4. Goal and winning

• Hand: The team with at least 5 tricks wins.
• 4 : 4: A draw – the next hand brings one extra token.
• Game: The first team to win 10 tokens wins.

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. Follow suit if possible.
3. A player who can't follow may trump or discard.
4. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Hearts are trumps. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 1, 3, 4, 2.

1. Player 1 leads the ace of hearts. Everyone follows with hearts: trick to Player 1.
2. Player 1 leads the king of clubs. Player 3 plays the ace of clubs and wins.
3. Player 3 leads the 10 of spades. Player 4 has no spades and trumps with the 7 of hearts. Player 2 plays the queen of spades.
4. At the end Players 1 and 4 have 6 tricks: hand won.

6. Scoring

• Recording: Tokens per team.
• End: First team to 10 tokens.

7. Special rules and situations

• Choosing trumps: Only after the first 4 cards – no change afterwards.
• Next trump chooser: The deal passes round, and with it the trump chooser.
• Revoke: Failing to follow when you could loses the hand for your team.
• Common mistakes: choosing trumps with just one good card; wasting trumps early.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: 32 cards, trumps after 4 cards, game to 10 tokens.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner to 10 or 5 tokens; play is anticlockwise.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Trumps with ace or king: Choose the suit with the highest cards.
2. Count on your partner: They still receive four cards – usually a trump or two.
3. Aces early: In only eight tricks every ace counts.
4. Keep count: With 32 cards only eight trumps are in play.
5. Trump with purpose: Especially tricks with the opponents' aces.
6. Avoid 4 : 4: Fight for the fifth trick.
7. Bother the trump team: Beating them earns 2 tokens.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 32 cards (7 to ace), two teams.
2. Anticlockwise.
3. 4 cards each; right of the dealer chooses trumps.
4. 4 more cards each (8 in total).
5. The trump chooser leads.
6. Follow suit, else trump or discard.
7. Highest trump or highest card of the suit wins.
8. At least 5 tricks win the hand.
9. Trump team 1 token, opponents 2, all 8: 3.
10. First team to 10 tokens wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

Who chooses trumps?

The player right of the dealer, after seeing their first four cards.

How many tricks do I need?

Your team needs at least five of eight.

Why do the opponents get 2 tokens?

Because it's harder to beat the team that chose trumps.

What happens at 4 : 4?

Nobody gets tokens; the next hand brings one extra.

Must I trump?

No. A player who can't follow may trump or discard.

How long does a game take?

About 20 to 30 minutes.

Origin & history

Omi is the best-known card game of Sri Lanka and a fast whist relative with only 32 cards. It is played with tokens that move between the teams.